Denver Truck Accident Lawyer

Contributing Factors to Trucking Accidents

Although truck drivers are trained professionals, there are many factors that can contribute to a trucking accident. Any commercial truck accident is likely to have multiple factors that caused the collision, whether due to natural or negligent behavior.

In a Colorado commercial trucking accident, there are often multiple individuals and companies responsible for the accident.

Common causes of trucking accidents include:

• Failure to perform proper maintenance
• Poor load packing
• Carrying excessive and unsafe weight for a roadway
• Failure to observe all traffic laws
• Distracted driving

Contact us today to begin your journey to compensation. Call us at (303) 647-9990 to get started now.

How Do Truck Accidents Differ from Other Types of Auto Accidents?

Truck accidents are usually more complex than normal auto accidents because there may be a number of defendants. The truck driver may have been responsible for your accident due to reckless driving, distractions, fatigue, or even drugs or alcohol.

The trucking company may be partially liable for your accident as they may have knowingly placed an inexperienced driver on the roadways or knowingly allowed the driver to exceed the mandated hours of service.

The shipping/loading company may be responsible if the accident was due to poorly secured cargo.

The truck maintenance company may be responsible if the truck was not properly maintained. Finally, the manufacturer of the truck or specific truck parts could be held liable if one of those parts were defective.

Truck accidents are also almost always more severe than a typical car accident. Victims of truck accidents are likely to experience extremely high medical expenses and may be unable to return to work for a long while, if ever.

Those severely injured in a truck accident may suffer chronic pain and emotional trauma related to the accident.

In short, these people need help following their truck accident, and they need it quickly. Perhaps even more so than in a "regular" traffic accident involving only passenger vehicles. When a truck accident occurs, time is even more of a factor.

In most cases, the trucking company will have people on the scene immediately following the accident. Crucial evidence may be removed, leaving victims helpless to prove negligence.

The person who has a skilled Denver truck accident attorney by their side from the very beginning will be in a much better position than the person who waits, hoping the insurance company will offer them a fair settlement amount.

Act Quickly for Maximum Compensation

The actions you take in the first hours and days following your accident are crucial, especially if you hope to receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

The quicker you speak to an attorney about initiating a trucking accident lawsuit, the less likely you are to have to deal with insurance investigators or the trucking company's attorneys who will definitely not have your best interests at heart.

It is important to act quickly because valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed if you delay.

Lawyers for the trucking company will immediately seek to show you were at fault in the accident, by claiming it was due to:

• Following the truck too closely
• Traveling in the truck's blind spots
• Unsafe passing
• Driving too fast for the posted speed limit or road conditions
• Merging too closely in front of the truck
• Inattentive driving

Your Denver Truck accident lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected throughout the legal process and that you are not “railroaded” into accepting a settlement that is far below what you need to fully recover.

Compensation Available after a Truck Accident

If you sustained injury in a truck accident, you are eligible to seek compensation. The damages in a truck accident lawsuit are awarded so you can get back to the life you were living before your accident, or as close as possible.

You can receive compensation for direct costs that you have had to pay or will have to pay in the future. You can also receive compensation for trauma and emotional injuries.

The types of compensation you can receive to cover your economic damages include those for:

• Medical bills paid
• Future medical costs
• Ongoing treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Homecare and home adjustments
• Income lost during recovery
• Loss of potential future income

The types of compensation you can receive to cover your emotional injuries include those for:

• Pain and suffering
• A decline in your quality of life
• Emotional stress
• Physical impairment or disfigurement
• Inconvenience

Additional damages may be available to your family for loss of consortium. These damages are to provide your financial assistance if you or your loved one are unable to provide the same level of companionship to your spouse or children, including general care, affection, or intimacy.

Generally, the court will not award punitive damages in a truck accident, but it may happen in extreme cases. Punitive damages, in most cases, are only available when the defendant intended to cause harm or acted in such a way that they should have known they would be causing harm.

In Colorado, a plaintiff cannot ask for punitive damages at the beginning of the case. Additionally, a punitive damages award in Colorado cannot exceed an award for actual damages.

The Settlement Process

Too often, those that sustain injury in truck accidents do not seek appropriate legal counsel. This may be due to the belief that dealing with it on your own will help you settle the case faster or with less expense. At Denver Trial Lawyers ® ®, we don’t get paid unless you do. We take all our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means if you don't recover, you don't owe us anything.

Dealing with insurance companies on your own is never a good idea. The insurance companies know you are facing mounting medical bills and may wish to settle quickly. Because of this, they offer very low settlements. Without appropriate legal counsel, you may be bullied into accepting a settlement that doesn’t serve you.

The insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. They are for-profit businesses that are looking to impact their bottom line as little as possible. In other words, they will offer you the lowest settlement amount they think you will accept. They are not worried about you, your family, your medical bills, or your future life.

When you work with Denver Trial Lawyers ® ®, you'll be working with attorneys who have years of experience dealing with these insurance companies. We'll make sure you are aware of all of your rights and your recovery options.

We’ll also ensure that you have all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family. We won’t let you get “railroaded” into accepting a settlement that is far below what you need to fully recover.

If you don't feel you received a settlement offer that addresses your needs, Denver Trial Lawyers ® ® is ready to take the case as far as it needs to go to get you what you deserve. We regularly obtain compensation of over $500,000 for our truck accident clients, and have obtained an $8,000,000 settlement in one case.

Tell us about your accident. A Denver truck accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation and submit a demand letter describing your injuries and the way the accident changed your life. Begin a free case evaluation by calling Denver Trial Lawyers today at (303) 647-9990.